Portable Irons For Travel - The Ultimate Buying Guide!

Perhaps, it’s pretty hard to find a person who is fond of ironing: you either dislike it, or hate it. So admit it, that some of your clothes or bed linen in a cupboard are still awaiting their turn to be perfectly ironed. But what if you are on the road and need to look fresh and neat before the conference, for example, but all the clothes in a suitcase look like a pile of crumpled rags? Then the question becomes a vital issue and an iron – the most desirable thing in the world. Not to let such situations catch you napping, you should include a portable iron in the list of your essential and compact road gadgets. Believe it or not, but even small device can provide you with a high-quality ironing, and this article aims to help you choose the right one for your needs.

1. “Once upon a time…” The history of irons

Charcoal iron of late 19th-early 20th century

An iron is considered to be a very old household invention, whose first prototypes appeared as far back as before our era. Ancient Greeks smoothed their tunics and chitons using hot heavy stones and warmed up rods. The Romans used red-hot metal hammers that removed the wrinkles by the beating. The Chinese employed primitive hot irons that were essentially maneuverable pans filled with smoldering coals. Anyway, all those smoothers were dramatically different from what we recognize as an iron today, until the early 1300s. The flatiron was comprised of a flat piece of iron with a metal handle attached. To heat the iron, it was held over or in a fire until it was hot. However, that device had two major inconveniences: it was still heavy and cooled quickly.

In search of new ways of keeping the iron hot longer and making it lighter, the device had undergone a series of evolutionary changes, such as charcoal and gas as the fuel source, until the first electric flatiron was patented by Henry W. Seely in 1882.

By the middle of the 20th century, iron technology had progressed considerably, when thermostats and steam technology became standard features of irons. Contemporary irons are made primarily of plastic and metal with non-stick coating on the soleplate.

2. An iron in need is a friend indeed. Who needs a portable iron?

Business travelers who always need to have crisp garments for business meetings and who do not trust hotel irons that are frequently leaking;

Sticklers for detail on vacation since it’s important for them to have a perfect look whether they are on a camping trip or on a cruise;

Sportsmen who need to iron their clothes after the training before going to work or to dinner;

Students living in dorms or rented accommodation since they do not use the iron very often and can financially afford this gadget. The portable iron can also be very convenient when moving to other place of residence due to their little weight and size;

Young married couples who initially economize on expensive household appliances;

Dacha owners who spend weekends or vacation in the countryside and who use the iron occasionally.

3. Pack it easy, and other benefits of using a portable iron

Compact size in comparison with standard models. In fact, it’s pretty easy to mistake most of portable irons for a toy as their length is usually just 3.2-4 inches / 8-10 cm;

Less weight. On average, a portable iron weighs about 1-1.7 lbs / 0.4-0.8 kg. This advantage will definitely make the device your almost imponderable travel companion;

Despite the size and weight, portable models are good enough to cope with removing wrinkles from simple clothes, such as cotton and wool things like a shirt or a pair of pants;

Portable irons help you get into places bigger irons can't reach and are greatly suited for ironing collars and cuffs on shirts, while standard models and steamers are often unable to create a sharp, pressed edge;

Most of compact irons use the power up to 1000 watts, and hence they consume less amount of electric power;

To make irons even more convenient during transportation, some manufacturers create foldable models with removable handles or with handles that can be turned on side;

The most pleasant thing in portable irons is their cost. The cost of the most expensive model will hardly exceed $55. But the price doesn't always indicate performance – majority of top popular models are $15 up to $30.

4. No iron is perfect, or drawbacks of using a portable iron

Due to low capacity that generally ranges from 800 watts to 1000 watts, portable irons may not be a suitable option if you are going to iron big and difficult fabrics like drapes or tablecloths;

Steam flow rate is, on average, between 20-30 g/min, which is considered low compared with more powerful standard models. Due to this parameter, alongside with the small soleplate size, the ironing process can take you up to 2-3 times longer;

Most of cheap portable irons have so called “non-stick” soleplates that scratches easily and don’t glide as easily as irons with, for example, stainless steel or ceramic soleplate materials.

5. Be wise – take advice. Factors to consider when choosing a portable iron

Surface coating. Choose from stainless steel, anodized aluminum, ceramic, and non-stick. Non-stick type is widely spread among budget models, but according to statistics, the most popular among buyers are irons with stainless steel soleplate. Stainless steel is quite strong, and resistant to adverse external influences. In addition, these irons have a smooth glide and are easy to clean;

Power. A significant criteria when selecting a standard iron, while portable appliances have to sacrifice their power for compact size. So you will hardly find a portable iron with more than 1000 watts, but that’s fine, you will get rid of wrinkles in you clothes effortlessly;

Steam availability. Figure out whether you need a dry iron or steam iron. A steam iron can always be used as a dry one, but not the other way around;

Parameters of iron water tank. If a portable iron has a steam system, pay attention to a water tank volume and position. It should be comfortable for water supply and its volume should be sufficient to ensure simple task ironing without frequent refueling;

Dual voltage capability. If you are traveling abroad, you will appreciate this feature. American appliances run on 110 volts, while European appliances are 220 volts. That’s why it is important to ensure that your travel iron supports dual voltage, otherwise it could be fried. You’ll definitely need an adapter, but those are easy to pick up anywhere;

Automatic switch off system. Automatic shut off allows you to save electricity and helps prevent fire, if it’s left unused for too long. Also ensure that the iron has a temperature control system for different fabric types which is well marked and easy to see;

Power cord length. The longer the better because this thing is awesome for moving around and reaching those hard-to-reach outlets. Some travel irons skimp here so choose wisely. There are also cordless portable irons on the market, however, their performance is generally unimpressive according to buyers’ reviews;

Warranty. Make sure that the model you picked includes a warranty, and even if the cost is slightly higher than those without a warranty, it gives you piece of mind.

6. Hot stuff. Reviews of popular portable irons

If you are reading this article, you hopefully are a person who plans ahead and don’t need just any portable iron, you definitely want the best iron provided on the market, so to make your choice easier, the following are reviews on some top compact models:

Packed with convenient features in a sleek design, this model resembles a luxury full-size iron. Compact and lightweight, It can be glided and maneuver with ease in your hand with buttons and other controls right at your fingertip.

This portable iron is a nice option for those who prefer vertical steaming as this model combines two solutions in one: you can use it for touch-ups on cuffs and collars, and then switch it to vertical use to steam wrinkles out of your hanging travel-creased garments.

Another portable model with a vertical steam option and great power performance for removing wrinkles and creases from nearly all types of fabrics. The compact design and fold-down handles let this iron be easily transformed into a travel-ready iron.

Majority of users are happy with the quality provided to them by this portable yet powerful iron;

Many reviewers are impressed with the Rowenta's quick heating and steaming power;

Compact size and original design are also highly estimated;

Cons:

Durability issues on steam, leaks and broken handles after a year of use.

7. Looking wider. Portable iron alternatives

While traveling, there’s a high probability you won’t have an ironing board ready at hand and won’t have an appropriate flat surface instead, or maybe you are part of those who just don't like having to hassle with iron cords and ironing board – you’d rather need a method for steaming suitcase wrinkles out of your clothes or just refreshing it as quick and easy as possible. To avoid all these inconveniences, the best option for you is to find an alternative to a portable iron, such as handheld steamers and super compact pocket irons. In fact, these devices can hardly substitute an iron, then what’s the benefit of using them? Let’s examine these alternatives in detail.

7.1 Handheld portable steamers

These devices are a great choice for anyone who just needs to touch up their clothes, or for steaming hanging items. One of the key advantage vertical steamers give to the consumer is a complete disinfection of garments, linen, etc. through the steam processing. Below are two worthy representatives of these portable devices:

7.2 Compact pocket irons

There are two most popular models among pocket irons on the modern market. They are:

a) Pocket Travel Card Style Rechargeable Iron

This ultra-slim device doesn’t look like an iron – it’s more similar to a cell phone. Invented for business travelers and those who lead a busy lifestyle, this cute gadget allows ironing collars, ties, pockets, in-between buttons and pant creases right on-the-go, without taking off your clothes.

Key features:

Dimension: 2.4" x 0.7" x 3.9" / 6.2 x 1.8 x 10 cm;

Lightweight: 0,2 lbs / 0,1 kg;

Heat temperature: 194-203°F / 90-95°C;

Heat-resistant ABS plastic material;

Heat-up time: 5 min;

Powered by 3x AAA batteries (not included) or via USB charging cable;

Extremely affordable for as little as $10 per item on Amazon;

Available on Amazon and Ali Express.

b) Collar perfect Compact Touch-up Iron

Being a Kickstarter project of Brandon Dierker, this cute iron promises to put an end to traditional ironing frustration. The key difference between Collar Perfect and a traditional iron is its adjustable wings. They sit facing each other, which allows the user to place a garment between them to iron both sides. This is how it's able to reach collars, in-between buttons, skirt hems, pant creases and other hard-to-reach places that a regular iron would have difficulty with. The iron wings can also be flipped out and used flat, but be patient – this ironing option might be pretty time-consuming due to a very small soleplate area.

8. Conclusion

They say we should never judge a book by its cover, however, we can’t deny the fact that the way we look and the way we dress do matter when we want to make a first strong impression on other people. While traveling, it’s harder to be put together, but once you are equipped with a portable iron or its alternative, you’ll never miss a chance to look fresh, neat and classy. After having read this article, we hope you will definitely find an easy-going and convenient travel ironing device, which can be your reliable personal assistant wherever you go.

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